Eyeglass frame having split rims and detachable side pieces

ABSTRACT

A eyeglass frame having lens-encompassing rims including slot in their outer portions facilitating insertion and removal of lenses. Bores extend through the rims on both sides of the slot adapted to receive fasteners mounted on a clamp hingedly supporting side pieces for the frame, and imparting a closing force to the slot. A pivotable closing lever is mounted on one side of the slot and has a portion adapted to engage a recess in the rim on the other side of the slot so as to form a further releasable calmp for latching the slot into contracted or closed relationship.

United States Patent Livas Oct. 2, 1973 [75] Inventor: Konstantin Livas,Gerlingen,

Germany [73] Assignec: Nufer-Optik Neostyle Walter A.

Nuter, Gerlingen, Germany [22] Filed: Aug. 28, 1972 [21] Appl. No.:284,459

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 28, 1971 Germany G 71 32959.4

[52] U.S.Cl ..35l/90, 351/92, 351/116, 351/140, 351/141 [51] Int. ClG02c 1/08, G02c 5/14 [58] Field of Search 351/90, 92, 95, 96, 351/97,116, 140, 141

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,473,869 10/1969 Pluznik etal 351/140 X Primary Examiner-David Schonberg Assistant ExaminerPaul A.Sacher Attorney-Eric H. Waters et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A eyeglass frame having lens-encompassing rims includingslot in their outer portions facilitating insertion and removal oflenses. Bores extend through the rims on both sides of the' slot adaptedto receive fasteners mounted on a clamp hingedly supporting side piecesfor the frame, and imparting a closing force to the slot. A pivotableclosing lever is mounted on one side of the slot and has a portionadapted to engage a recess in the rim on the other side of the slot soas to form a further releasable calmp for latching the slot intocontracted or closed relationship.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures EYEGLASS FRAME HAVING SPLIT RIMS ANDDETACI-IABLE SIDE PIECES FIELD OF THE INVENTION- The present inventionrelates to a frame for eyeglasses having lens-encompassing rims whichare provided with adjustable width slots in their outer portions, andwith the slots adapted to be covered by clamps having suitable hingesfor the attachment of side pieces or temples for the eyeglasses. Slotsmust be provided in the lens-encompassing rims of eyeglass frames whenthe material of which the central portion or rim, of which the frame ismade, cannot be widened through moderate heating to an extent permittingthe fitting or insertion of the lenses into the eyeglass rims. Forexample, that is the case when the frames of the eyeglasses are made ofmetal.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART In conventional metallic frames for eyeglasses,the slots which are usually provided in the eyeglass or lensencompassingrims are contracted by means of closure blocks or bosses which aresoldered to the eyeglass rims. However, the required soldering operationin attaching the closure bosses to the rims cannot be carried out ineyeglass frames which are made of aluminum. Consequently, the slots inrims of the eyeglass frames formed of aluminum are generally contractedby means of screws which engage threads formed in bores provided in theeyeglass rims. However, this type threaded connection is impracticalwhen used in aluminum eyeglass frames, since the thread is easilydamaged or even destroyed when subjected to high or repetitive stresses,in view of the inherent softness of aluminum.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly, an object of the inventionto provide a frame for the eyeglass having lens-encompassing rims whichare provided with slots in their outer portions, and in which the slotsmay be readily and securely contracted or closed irrespective of thematerial used, without impairing the aesthetic quality of the eyeglassframe.

The foregoing object is attained in an eyeglass frame in accordance withthe invention, by providing at least one bore on both sides or eachslot, and which are adapted to accommodate a connecting bolt or screwattached to a corresponding clamp. Consequently, the slot in thelens-encompassing rims of the frame, according to the invention, can beeasily contracted or closed by introducing the connecting bolts orscrews of the respective clamp in alignment with the bores located onboth sides of a corresponding slot, whereby the portions of the rimsextending from both sides of the slot are clamped or held together bythe bolts and the clamp. In less expensive frames for eyeglasses, suchas for instance, for non-prescription sunglasses, in which there is noexchange or replacement of the lenses, the bolts may take the form ofrivets, which may be rigidly and permanently riveted into the eyeglassrims after their positioning within the bores provided in the rims. Thebolts may also be formed as threaded pins or internally threaded sleevesfor use in eyeglass frames whose eyeglasses or lenses areinterchangeable. The rigid connection of the clamps with the eyeglassrims in this case may be effected by means of suitable nuts screwed ontothe free ends of the threaded pins protruding from the bores, or throughscrews or bolts screwed into the open ends of the internally threadedsleeves.

The fitting of the lenses into an eyeglass frame is extremelycomplicated, particularly in frames made of metal, such as for instance,aluminum, since the eyeglass or lens and the encompassing rim must befitted together with an accuracy of up to a tenth of a millimeter. Thus,it is frequently unavoidable that the lens be inserted into and removedfrom the eyeglass rim several times in order to ascertain that theeyeglass is properly ground. In order to facilitate and simplify thisfitting sequence, it is advantageous that the slot may be readilycontracted or closed and latched during the fitting of the lens. This ismade possible in the inventive frame by simply introducing the boltsinto their respective bores, i.e., by attachment of the clamp. However,in order to simplify this comparatively complicated lens fittingoperation in a preferred embodiment of the invention a locking orclosing lever, which is preferably annular, is provided for each slot inthe outer portion of the eyeglas rim, and in which each lever extendsthrough a bore formed in the eyeglass rim on one side of the slot, withthe lever being pivotably supported in the bore, and including a recessin the eyeglass rim on the other side of the slot adapted to be engagedby the lever. Consequently, this affords the opportunity of always beingable to contract or close and latch the slot in its closed position bymeans of the lever during the fitting sequence, without necessitatingattachment of the clamps. Accordingly, only when the fitting has beencompleted and the eyeglasses or lenses are rigidly supported within theeyeglass rims are the clamps applied. Moreover, the locking or closinglevers prevent the eyeglass rims from springing open in the event of thethreaded connection between the clamps and the eyeglass rim loosening orunscrewing during protracted use, and so as to protect the eyeglass orlens encompassed by the eyeglass rim from falling out of the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention is now described ingreater detail in the following description of an exemplary embodimentof an eyeglass frame, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an eyeglassframe according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are top plan and front elevational views, respectively, ofthe outer portion of the right side eyeglass rim with the rim clampomitted;

FIG. 4 is an exploded top plan view of the outer portion of the rightside eyeglass rim; and

FIG. 5 is an interior view of an end part of the right side eyeglassside piece or temple with attached clamp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The frame for eyeglasses as illustrated in thedrawings includes a central portion 1 having a pair of eyeglass orlens-encompassing rims 2 and 3, which are provided with slots 4 in eachof their outer portions. Clamps 5 are provided so as to cover the slots4 while concurrently including hinges 6 for the attachment of eyeglassesside pieces or temples 7.

A through bore 8 is provided in the rims on either side of each slot 4,each bore 8 being adapted to receive a bolt 9 which is rigidly attachedto or mounted on a corresponding clamp 5. Each bolt 9 may have the shapeof a threaded pin, and may be provided with a threaded nut 12 for matingengagement with thread 11 formed on each bolt 9,

Furthermore, each slot 4 has provided therefore an annularly extendingclosing lever 13, which is mounted in the outer portion of each rim 2and 3, each annular leverextending through a through-bore 14 formed ineyeglass rims 2 and 3 on one side of each slot 4, and being pivotallysupported therein. An outwardly opening recess or groove is formed ineach rim on the outer side of each slot 4, and is adapted to be engagedby the annular lever in one operative position thereof, whereby eachslot 4 can be latched into contracted or closed position by lever 13without requiring a clamp 5.

During the fitting of lenses into the eyeglass rims 2 and 3, the slot 4is compressed after the lens has been inserted into the respective rim,and latched by means of the closing lever 13. Afterwards, it can beprecisely determined if the lens fits precisely in the eyeglass rim. Ifthis is not the case, the closing lever 13 is pivoted out of engagementwith recess 15 to thereby open slot 4, and the lens removed from the rimfor subsequent additional grinding or cutting. When the fitting sequencefor the lens is completed, the bolts or screws 9 of a clamp 5 areintroduced into and through the bores 8 and fastened therein to the rimby means of threaded nuts 12, the closing lever 13 having beenpreviously pivoted into its closed and latching position.

The bolts 9 may also have the shape of internally threaded sleeves,whereby cooperative fastening screws or bolts may be used in lieu of thethreaded nuts 12. In eyeglass frames in which there is no replacement orexchange of lenses, for instance, inexpensive or nonprescriptionsunglasses, the bolts 9 may be in the form of rivets, which arepermanently fastened to the respective rims 2 or 3.

In the illustrative example of the eyeglass frame according to theinvention, the central or rim portion 1 and the main portion of the sidepieces or temples 7 are made of aluminum. The clamps S, the hinge 6, andthe bolts 9 are usually formed of a more rigid, stainless ornon-corroding metal, such as for instance, brass or carried out withequal effect and success when the central portion 1 is made of any othermetal or suitable plastic material, and particularly a plastic whichcannot be expanded through heating to such an extent sufficient to allowthe lenses to be inserted into the eyeglass rims.

While there has been shown what is considered to be the preferredembodiment of the invention, it will be obvious that modifications maybe made which come within the scope of the disclosure of thespecification.

What is claimed is:

1. In an eyeglass frame having lens-supporting rims and side pieceshingedly connected thereto, a slot extending through the outer portionof each of said rims, at least one bore extending through said rim outerportion on opposite sides of said slot, clamp means includ ing a hingefor supporting respectively one of said side pieces, and means providedfor detachablyremoving said side pieces from said rim, said meansincluding connecting bolt means being mounted on said clamp means, saidconnecting bolt means being insertable through said bores to positionsaid clamp means in superposed relation over said slot whileconcurrently imparting a contracting and closing force to said slot.

2. A frame as claimed in claim 1, said connecting bolt means comprisinga threaded screw.

3. A frame as claimed in claim 1, said connecting bolt means comprisingan internally threaded sleeve.

4. A frame as claimed in claim 1, comprising further bore meansextending through the outer portion of each of said rims on one side ofsaid slot, a recess being formed in the outer portion of each said rimson the other side of said slot, lever means extending through saidfurther slot and being pivotally journalled therein, said lever meansincluding a portion adapted to be engaged in said recess in oneoperative position thereof so as to impart a contracting and closingrelationship to said slot.

5. A frame as claimed in claim 4, said lever means being of essentiallyannular ring-shaped configuration. l i K

1. In an eyeglass frame having lens-supporting rims and side pieceshingedly connected thereto, a slot extending through the outer portionof each of said rims, at least one bore extending through said rim outerportion on opposite sides of said slot, clamp means including a hingefor supporting respectively one of said side pieces, and means providedfor detachably removing said side pieces from said rim, said meansincluding connecting bolt means being mounted on said clamp means, saidconnecting bolt means being insertable through said bores to positionsaid clamp means in superposed relation over said slot whileconcurrently imparting a contracting and closing force to said slot. 2.A frame as claimed in claim 1, said connecting bolt means comprising athreaded screw.
 3. A frame as claimed in claim 1, said connecting boltmeans comprising an internally threaded sleeve.
 4. A frame as claimed inclaim 1, comprising further bore means extending through the outerportion of each of said rims on one side of said slot, a recess beingformed in the outer portion of each said rims on the other side of saidslot, lever means extending through said further slot and beingpivotally journalled therein, said lever means including a portionadapted to be engaged in said recess in one operative position thereofso as to impart a contracting and closing relationship to said slot. 5.A frame as claimed in claim 4, said lever means being of essentiallyannular ring-shaped configuration.